Ossett Albion earn crucial win over Mossley

Richard Tracey

Ossett Albion 1-0 Mossley AFC

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

A first minute goal from Dale Kelly brought bottom-placed Ossett Albion back to life in the Evo Stik Division North – much to the delight of player-manager Richard Tracey.
Ossett survived a barrage of second half pressure to earn a crucial victory that puts them one point behind Radcliffe Borough, who beat Ossett 3-0 on Saturday.
Albion goalkeeper Adam Rhodes was called upon to make a few excellent saves on a windy night at Dimple Wells to ensure Ossett picked only their second league win of the season.
Manager Tracey said: “We have worked hard on our shape in training and worked hard on pressing the ball and defending.
“Don’t get me wrong they had a couple of chances. They have tried to go round the keeper and rolled one into the side-netting and Rhodesy has made a couple of saves.
“But, in the end I think we deserved to win tonight.
“We have looked more solid, we worked harder for each other and we looked like a team for really the first time this year.
“It was a phenomenal start. We got them on the back-foot early doors and had a couple of half-chances before getting the early goal. I suppose what has been pleasing is that we have defended a lead for a long, long time.
“We had spells in front like Bamber where there were seven minutes to go and got turned over. We defended for 88 minutes today. It’s a shame we didn’t get the second goal because it would have taken a little bit of pressure off.
“I think one to eleven today, adding the five who were on the bench, everyone put in 110% and they got their rewards.”
With the windy conditions playing a part, Mossley struggled to attack during the first half and within 30 seconds of the start, Albion almost scored.

Adam Muller

Former Guiseley striker Adam Muller, who had an excellent game, found space down the left-side and moved towards the penalty before passing to Kelly. Kelly drove his effort low and hard, but goalkeeper Russell Saunders turned the ball for a corner. The corner was cleared, but the ball fell to midfielder Paddy McGuire whose cross was spilled by Saunders. Kelly was in the right place and he volleyed the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Ossett had further chances. Niall O’Brien saw his powerful free kick blocked by a firm wall and Muller also caused a few problems and was being continually fouled by Mossley defenders.
Tracey’s side, which contained Darol Lucas who played the whole game having played 90 minutes for Glasshoughton Welfare on Tuesday night against Retford United, failed to take full advantage of the wind and Mossley almost made them pay.
Wayne Welbeck should have scored in the opening act of the second half after rounding Rhodes. Welbeck made a mess of the simple tap-in and could only find the side-netting.
Lucas had Ossett’s only real chance of the half when his low shot was easily saved.
Ossett did defence well, but they had to rely on Rhodes on a few occasions. On the hour mark, Rhodes palmed John Bennett’s strike for a corner.
Rhodes came to the rescue again in the 72nd minute when Dougie Carroll found space and looked set to score until Rhodes made a fantastic save.
Carroll was then made to rue another missed chance in the final moments of the game. Carroll broke through down the left-wing and went one-on-one with Rhodes, but the goalkeeper was able to make an important stop with his right leg to turn the ball away from danger.
That was the last real opportunity and Ossett were able to celebrate a victory that Tracey admitted was a huge relief, ahead of Saturday’s home game with New Mills.
He said: “I’ve being in football long enough to know it’s a results business and I feel the pressure and certainly I was feeling it, but we tried to take that off the lads to allow them to play with freedom.
“Today we got that result which we needed.
“(On whether everyone was downbeat after the Radcliffe game) It was and it wasn’t. It was because we got beat by Radcliffe, it wasn’t because I knew we had gone there with five players missing. We ended up playing Tyrone who is a defender, playing upfront. We had no centre-forwards.
“We didn’t turn up and it was a catalogue of rubbish in terms of a performance.”
Ossett Albion: Rhodes, Holt (captain), Jackson, Owen, Gay, McGuire, Lucas, O’Brien, Muller, Kelly (Robinson 80), Metcalfe (Truman 82). Subs unused: Durham, Jones, Nicholson.
Mossley AFC: Saunders (captain), Haslem (Broadbent 71), Horne (McCarthy 61), McGrath, Anderson, Hopper, Keogh, Bennett, Welbeck, Carroll, Gardner. Subs unused: McDonnell, Thewliss.
Referee: A Pashley (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 76
Man of the match: Adam Rhodes (Ossett Albion)

Farsley AFC report referee after Northwich Victoria tunnel confrontation

Farsley AFC manager Neil Parsley

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Farsley AFC manager Neil Parsley has confirmed that a complaint has been made about the referee of Saturday’s controversial 3-3 draw at Northwich Victoria following an incident in the tunnel at half-time.
The central point of the complaint stems from a confrontation between an un-named Farsley player and the referee as the teams made their way to their respective dressing rooms.
The score was 2-2 at the time and Parsley confirmed that a number of his players “were voicing their opinions” about two contentious moments in the first half before the actual reported incident took place next to the visitor's dressing room door.
Parsley said: “I left it until Monday morning until I emailed my account of events of Saturday to the league secretary.
“I’ve passed on my thoughts and what I saw and heard and it is up to the league now.
“Mark Jackson and Simeon Bambrook as assistant managers have been asked for statements.
“The league is welcome to statements off the players if they so be it. We’ll see and if they want more evidence then that is not a problem.”
The game spiralled out of control and into chaos during the second half as Farsley finished the match with eight players.
Farsley were leading 3-2 with ten minutes to go when Ryan Serrant was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
The foul is said to have taken place two yards outside the penalty area, but with the help of the assistant referee, the referee gave a spot kick.
Defender Matt Dempsey was then dismissed for foul and abusive language and after Northwich’s Dale Wright slammed the penalty home, Simeon Bambrook followed him down the tunnel for the same offence.
Asked on whether he expects any action to be taken, Parsley said: “Again that’s up to the league to decide on what they deem necessary.
“No doubt they’ll have the referee and linesman’s report as well. No doubt the league will speak about it and compare and hopefully the truth will prevail."

Bad night for Glasshoughton Welfare as Retford United hit them for six

Bad night: Rob Hunter

Glasshoughton Welfare 1-6 Retford United

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Glasshoughton Welfare continue to remain without a home win so far in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division season after much-fancied Retford United romped to an impressive away victory at Leeds Road.
Glasshoughton manager Rob Hunter said it was “a horrible and frustrating night”.
Profilic striker Liam Wilkin capitalised on nearly Glasshoughton mistake to score four times, with his team-mates Reece Thompson and substitute Richard Medcalf adding the extras.
Dalton Harris was able to pull a goal back for Welfare in the 88th minute, but Hunter gave an honest assessment of the heavy defeat.
“I think to lose 6-1 at home is a horrible feeling for the club, it is horrible for the players, but when you make as many mistakes in a game against a team like that then that is what is going to happen to you,” he told Sports Performer.

“Retford are a very good side and they probably had eight chances in the game and took six of them. I actually thought in the first half there was nothing in the game and it should have been 0-0.

“Two bad defensive errors have punished us and if you’re going to give the ball away in the penalty area after 20 minutes and then 30 minutes and go 2-0 down you’re going to struggle for the rest of the game.
“We came in at half-time and thought we worked hard and played well and unfortunate not to be at 0-0. We started really well in the second half and just conceded after another mistake, another mistake and another mistake and it is so frustrating. What a horrible and frustrating night it turned out to be.
“The actual performance, let’s put it into perspective. The attitude was good and the work rate was good. The all-round performance I would say wasn’t bad, but the amount of individual errors we made as a team was bad.

“We got punished, we got punished for every mistake. Any mistake and they thumped it in the back of the net, every single one.”

Going into the game, Hunter had hoped his team would finally win at home at the sixth attempt having lost the previous five.

Hunter even had Venezulan winger Hiliar Serrao, believed to be the first Venezulan to play for Glasshoughton, in his side for the first time.

But, the signs for the elusive win weren’t good as early as the ninth minute when Retford opened the scoring. Matt Donnelly made the mistake and it gifted Wilkin, who made his name playing for Winterton Rangers, took full advantage.
Wilkin nipped in again before the half-hour with a curling effort that gave Glasshoughton goalkeeper Paul Hagreen no chance.
Glasshoughton came to life at the start of the second half and enjoyed a ten minute spell in control. Russ Headley and Liam Tuck both had speculative efforts that flew wide.

But, when leading goalscorer Calum Ward then fell to the ground in an off-the-ball incident, which referee Mick Denton took no action against anyone, it stopped Welfare’s momentum and Retford scored the pivotal third goal against the run of play.

Thompson was through on goal and he rounded Hagreen before sliding the ball into the net. Glasshoughton then collapsed during a 12 minute period.
Wilkin secured the match-ball by scoring a similar goal to Thompson’s. Thompson then turned provider by unselfishly passing to Wilkin, who had a simple tap-in, for number five.
A minute later on the 81 mark, Medcalf turned his marker to score to complete Retford’s scoring.
For the final few minutes, the Retford defence went to sleep and allowed Glasshoughton back into the match and after a couple of moments of pressure, Welfare scored.

Greig McGrory played a great ball to the back-post and Harris was there to head home his first goal for Glasshoughton since joining two weeks ago.

Glasshoughton now have to dust themselves down and prepare for high-flying Tadcaster Albion’s visit on Saturday. Tadcaster are 13 league games unbeaten and sit in third place.

Glasshoughton Welfare: Hagreen, Beaston, Edwards, Tuck, Low, Donnelly, Lucas, Young, Ward (McGrory 68), Serrao (Harris 68), Headley (Corley 68). Sub unused: Chappell.

Retford United: Barford, Stannard, Severn, Walkden, Sanderson (Lucas 70), Fisher, O’Neill (captain) (Cooper 15), Thompson, Wilkin, Muirhead, Johnson (Medcalf). Subs unused: Holmes, Smith.

Referee: M Denton (Todmorden)

Attendance: 75

Man of the match: Liam Wilkin (Retford United)

Neil Parsley pleased with Farsley AFC display in 0-0 draw with Bamber Bridge

Adam Priestley who wasted a few glorious chances

Farsley AFC 0-0 Bamber Bridge

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Farsley AFC chief Neil Parsley believes the goal-less draw with Bamber Bridge shows that his side are “moving in the right direction”.
Both teams had plenty to score in an entertaining game that became the first 0-0 stalemate involving Farsley at Throstle Nest since January 2008 when John Deacey’s team held Stevenage Borough in a Conference Premier encounter, live on the Setanta Sports TV cameras.
Peter Taylor, who once managed England for one game, managed Stevenage that day and future Leeds United frontman Steve Morison was leading the line for him.
Deacey left Farsley later that year and the current Bradford Park Avenue manager was actually there to watch the Evo Stik Division One North clash last night.
But, on the Bamber game, Parsley revealed his satisfaction with the performance.
“It got a bit nervy towards the end, but having said that, if we had taken our chances early on, the game would have been put to bed,” he said.
“Late on we let the kid have a header at the far stick and then Morgs (Tom Morgan) made a great save down at his near post. A defensive mix-up in the last minute and with someone of Andy Bell’s prowess you would have he would have finished that.
“But, I thought we played some great stuff tonight. I said to the players ‘yes I am disappointed not to get the three points, it is not the end of the world. But I honestly think someone is going to get a hiding’.
“We’re sixth or seventh, but we’ve got a consistency and we’re hard to beat. It would be nice to turn some of the draws into wins and hopefully we can get on a winning run.
“But, I’m pleased with the clean sheet tonight as we have been conceding too many goals. We have being needing to score three goals to win a game. There were signs against Goole that we were more solid and I thought circumstances let Northwich off the hook on Saturday.
“It was a clean sheet tonight and I think we have made big steps in moving the right direction.
“The pitch helped tonight and I thought there was some slick passing and movement from us, especially in the first half.”
Farsley, with Avenue player Ross Daly in their midfield, were quick out of the blocks with three glorious chances in the opening 13 minutes.
Striker Adam Priestley wasted two opportunities when he broke clear and then Josh Grant rounded goalkeeper Steven James, but saw his shot cleared off-the-line.
After a bad start Bridge eventually began to create chances of their own. Farsley defender Paddy Miller was called upon to make a couple of important blocks as the first half drew to a close.
A poor back-pass nearly cost Bridge at the start of the second half. The lively Priestley nipped past Matt Mahoney and was able to guide the ball past James. The striker looked to score from just six yards, but Mahoney did enough to force Priestley to place the ball wide from the open goal.
Bamber then enjoyed a good spell of domination and Farsley had Tom Morgan to thank for his save from Lenning Reid after the winger found room down the left-wing.
At the other end, Matt Dempsey made a mess of Simeon Bambrook’s superb corner. When it seemed easier to score, the centre-half blazed the ball wide of the goal from close range.
Grant missed another sitter after latching onto substitute Bambrook’s killer cross with just five minutes to go.
Farsley were then nearly to pay. Fortunately Morgan was in top form and he made a fantastic stop from former Fleetwood Town striker Andy Bell’s header.
Both teams continued to press deep into injury-time and Morgan did enough to put off Bell when the forward exploited a Farsley mistake. Bell lobbed Morgan, but the ball landed on the roof of the net and following a nervy few minutes, the referee Brian McGill, who had an exceptional game, blew for full-time.
Farsley AFC: Morgan, Hardy, Serrant, Daly, Dempsey, Miller, James (Hull 57), Young (captain), Ellington, Priestley (Bambrook 72), Grant. Subs unused: Higginson, Etherington, Thompson.
Bamber Bridge: James, Mahoney, Alexander, Lawlor, Doughty, Kay (captain), Wilkins (Buchan 81), Thompson, Johnstone (Bell 72), Waddecar, Reid (Hastings 89). Sub unused: Maddock.
Referee: Mr. B McGill (Rochdale)
Attendance: 112
Man of the match: Tom Morgan (Farsley AFC)

Interview with Premier League referee Robert Madley

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Photo courtesy of Arthur Haigh of White Rose Photography

With no Premier League game to officiate, Wakefield-based Select Group referee Robert Madley stepped into the breach to take charge of Shaw Lane Aquaforce’s Toolstation NCEL Division One clash with Pontefract Collieries last week.
Madley had a ‘free’ Saturday as he was due to act as the Fourth Official in the following day’s televised encounter between Norwich City and Chelsea.
As the NCEL were struggling for officials for their Saturday fixture list, Madley put his name forward and looking back on the 1-1 draw, he told Sports Performer: “I absolutely loved it and for me that’s what football is all about. It is about grassroots. It is people turning out for their local club and giving their all.
“I started in the Wakefield League and then went as an assistant in the Northern Counties so I have a real affinity to the Counties and I’m glad to be able to help out in any way I can.
“It is about giving back and I don’t think there is any referee who gets past a level and sees themselves as too good to referee that level.
“If I’m being honest it was the hardest game of football that I’ve certainly refereed this season and probably the hardest I have done for a couple of seasons.
“That’s because of the endeavour of the players and the meat in every single tackle and again we didn’t have microphones and, this might sound silly, talking to assistants constantly without microphones is something I’m not used to any more.
“It was a great experience for me to go back and sometimes it is games like that that keep your feet on the ground and make you realise how lucky you are week-in-week-out to referee the football you do.
“We had four yellows, but it wasn’t a charity game, it was a game where I had to referee in the manner I would expect if I went to watch and assess a level four referee.”
27-year-old Madley was appointed to the Select Group Referees list in the summer after taking charge of his first Premier League game in April 2013 when West Brom travelled to Southampton.
But, that does not mean his refereeing success has gone to his head as he was keen to avoid a red carpet treatment and did not want any fanfare.
“The teams were good and I made it clear to the teams when we turned up that I wanted it to be simply a referee turning up,” he said.
“I didn’t want anything different. I didn’t use microphones, I didn’t wear a badge. I didn’t do anything like that because the important thing for that game was Shaw Lane and Pontefract were fighting for three points.
“It is irrelevance who is refereeing as far as I’m concerned. The important thing is the teams.”
Madley did have some small problems to overcome during the game and he said: “It was a little bit of culture shock simply because the expectation of what a foul is, is different at different levels of football.
“I gave a free kick early on for what would be expected to be given as a foul on the Premier League and 22 players looked at me and said ‘eh, what have you given ref?’”
“It is a little more physical at this level and they accept a little more physical contact and again at this level it is slightly different as they want the little pushes in the back and the little niggles.
“The higher up you go they’re not so bothered about that so getting used to it in the first five or ten minutes and trying to gage the expectations of the players was quite a difficult thing to do.”
His appointment was after NCEL chairman Dave Morrall spoke to the West Riding County, where Madley works as a Referee’s Development Officer to tell them the league was struggling for officials.
That’s when Madley put his hand up and he said: “Dave Morrall from the Northern Counties East League contacted the County FA to say there was a shortage of referees throughout the season for various reasons.
“Because the County Cups and FA competitions were taking place at the same time, he said he was struggling for referees and referees of the appropriate level for that weekend.
“With me being fourth official on the Sunday and having no game on the Saturday I offered my services to Dave as a referee.
“I think he was a little surprised and thought I was joking, but I’ve got a good relationship with Dave and consider him a friend so he probably took it as half been serious.
“But, as far as I’m concerned it’s a game of football
“They (my bosses) were fine about it because I would have done a training session anyway on the Saturday because we don’t sit around on a Saturday (when we haven’t got a game) and wrap ourselves in cotton wool.”
The final question, would he referee again in the NCEL on a free weekend?
“I think I would do it again in the future and I think for every referee who has a free weekend, no matter if you’re a Premier League referee or not, we should be putting ourselves out there,” he added.
“If leagues are struggling and local leagues on a Sunday are struggling, it doesn’t matter what level referee you are, you’re a referee at the end of the day and if you can cover a game that wouldn’t be staffed by a qualified ref then why not put your services out there?”

Wayne Benn resigns as Goole AFC manager

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

The resignation of Wayne Benn as manager of Evo Stik Division One South side Goole AFC is hardly a surprise.
Benn has struggled since leaving Hemsworth Miners Welfare just over a year to ago to take over at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.
Yesterday’s 3-0 home defeat to Leek Town which left Goole in 11thplace proved to be the final straw for the former Bradford (Park Avenue) captain.
Goole have been on a rocky road since the exit of manager Karl Rose to Frickley Athletic in the summer of 2012 as most of the playing squad followed him to South Elmsall.
John Reed and Clive Freeman replaced Rose, but speaking in the summer to Sports Performer, Freeman described the then-situation as “a car crash waiting to happen”.
The pair were sacked after just 12 games following a heated board meeting between then-chairman Des O’Hearne and Reed.
O’Hearne had been aiming for the Division One North play-offs, something that Reed said was impossible with the club’s budget.
Benn came in and despite winning only a handful of games managed to keep Goole in the Evo Stik. But, even though Goole have returned to the South structure, his side have never got going and Benn has walked away.
With the resources limited, whoever replaces Benn has a tough job on their hands.

Athersley Recreation earn deserved win at Garforth Town

Athersley captain Ryan White on the ball

Garforth Town 1-2 Athersley Recreation

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Garforth Town head coach Graham Nicholas revealed his frustrations after watching his side get outmuscled by an organised Athersley Recreation team in the feisty Toolstation NCEL Premier Division encounter.
First half goals from Lee Bennett and Simon Chadburn gave Garforth a mountain to climb and despite a second half Tawanda Rupere strike, which gave the Miners hope, Athersley held on.
Nicholas, a former Athersley coach, was angry with his team’s performance and claimed his side were not up for the game.
“I’m disappointed with the preparation because the players aren’t fit enough and the team is unbalanced as we are missing key players,” he said.
“Today we had no desire and that’s what it comes down to in one word – desire. Athersley have a winning mentality and they have earned the right to win the game. They work for each and have that togetherness and the desire to win games.

Not going to plan: Graham Nicholas

“When I say preparation I mean people not getting here on time and not turning up for training.
“Like I say, you try and prepare and I know what Athersley Rec is all about and at training I can show them what weaknesses they have and how to exploit them, but (when people don’t turn up) it is mission impossible and you’re banging head against a brick wall.
“The second half performance was an improvement, but in the first half we conceded two very poor goals.
“We had three men around the ball for the first goal and they’re looking at it and they let him walk through and score. The second goal was a set-piece which they are always dangerous from and we weren’t picking up like for like.”
Garforth were without injured trio Nick Black, Logan McDaniel and Liam Smith, along with winger Stephen Simpson due to work commitments and their absences contributed to one of the flattest displays of the campaign so far.



Garforth midfielder Anthony Hilton was unlucky with a top corner bound strike early on which Darren Shirt’s turned over the crossbar – arguably the save of the match.
But, after that, Athersley took control with former Ossett Albion midfielder Ryan White pulling the strings in midfield. White was magnificent in the middle of the park, winning every tackle and preventing a Garforth attack on every occasion.
Garforth though had only themselves to blame for the first goal. Ex Glasshoughton forward Lee Bennett was allowed room to waltz into the box and fire a shot past Karl Martens.
More poor defending followed with Garforth failing to properly organised themselves for a corner. From the right-side, Joe Thornton’s kick flew into the box and the unmarked Chadburn headed home.
Whilst Athersley didn’t create much, their workmanlike display allowed them to control the game. Garforth didn't create much and should have scored 11 minutes into the second half, one of their few chances.

Connor Bower

Connor Bower, recently released from Bradford City, latched onto a cross at the backpost and instead of taking the ball down to the ground, the winger chose to volley it and the ball sailed over the crossbar. Athersley then almost sealed the win when Thornton raced clear of the Garforth defence. Martens was quick to race out of his goal and did enough for the winger to place his shot wide of the goal.
On the hour, Garforth were fortunate to score through Rupere’s tap-in, but no spectacular comeback was ever forthcoming. Shirt only had to make one real save from Stohrer.
With White marshalling his team, Athersley were able to comfortably hold on for a deserved three points which lifts them to fourth in the table.
Garforth Town: Martens, Stohrer (captain), Hawksworth, Allen, Boland, Hilton, Rupere, Greenhalgh (Bishop HT), Cartman, Lyle (Booker 57), Bower (Helliwell 78). Subs unused: Newell, Ellis.
Athersley Recreation: Shirt, Chadburn, Cook, Blackburn, Briscoe (Welford 67), R White (captain), Scargill, A White, Bentley (Roberts 76), Bennett (Cartwright 61), Thornton. Subs unused: Thompson, Harban.
Referee: M Connell (Castleford)
Attendance: TBC
Man of the match: Ryan White (Athersley Recreation)